Genetic and Cellular Mechanisms for Controlled Growth

The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis

The project is funded by the Honda Research Institute Europe (Offenbach
Germany).

Abstract

The main target of the project is to develop computational models for cellular
development to achieve a controlled growth. By controlled growth, we mean three
mutually related properties. First, the morphological growth should stop within
a limited time. This does not necessarily mean that cells should stop dividing,
rather, a balance between cell proliferation and cell death should be achieved.
Second, it is possible to achieve a desired shape with a sufficient complexity.
Third, it should show a certain capability of self-repairing, i.e., when a small
number of the cells are destroyed, the balanced cell growth process should be able
to re-generate these cells at the right place. Cellular interaction mechanisms that
facilitate a structured growth will be studied. Second, evidence indicating
mechanisms for controlled growth found in biology, such as the role of negative
and positive feedback loops in gene regulatory networks, will be evaluated and
related to those network motifs found in the computational model. Based on the
understanding of the structure, dynamics and cellular behaviour of the gene
regulatory network model, we will perform a case study of a GRN model for the
development of cnidarians Nematostella vectensis and Acropora millepora using
biological data, including spatio-temporal gene expression data (in situ
hybridisations) and morphological data.

The Research Team